Thinking ahead – fusion energy for the 21st century?
Activities
General Atomics Fusion Education (USA)
Starpower – By manipulating magnetic field strength, power, fuel, density, pressure, shape and boundary, students attempt to produce at least 1000 MW of electricity from a fusion reactor.
Internet Plasma Physics Education Experience (USA)
Provides information about fusion and a number of applets, including:
The virtual tokamak
Magnetic confinement demonstration
Operate your own tokamak reactor
Analysis of data from the tokamak fusion test reactor
Also includes interactive modules on matter, electricity, magnetism, energy and fusion.
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan (USA)
Magnetic forces – an introduction to magnetic attraction, strength of force and the magnetic forces of the Earth.
ScienceNetLinks (American Association for the Advancement of Science, USA)
Risks and benefits – students assess and weigh the risks and benefits associated with innovations in science and technology.
Radioactive decay: A sweet simulation of a half-life – demonstrates that the rates of decay of unstable nuclei can be measured, that the exact time that a certain nucleus will decay cannot be predicted, and that it takes a very large number of nuclei to find the rate of decay.
Isotopes of pennies – provides lessons about radioactivity and isotopes using coins to represent subatomic particles.
What do scientists do? – students develop an understanding of the diversity and nature of various science disciplines.
ThinkQuest (Oracle Education Foundation, USA)
Basic fusion – provides background information on fusion reactions and then checks submitted answers to questions.
Binding energy – provides background information on binding energy and then checks submitted answers to questions.
Energy Information Administration (Department of Energy, USA)
Energy source web quest – students learn about energy sources using web-based resources and create PowerPoint presentations to teach other students.
Posted February 2007.